US3321735A - Bushing connector - Google Patents

Description

C. G. DUENKE ETAL May 23, 1967 BUSHING CONNECTOR Filed sept. 14

United States Patent Oce 3,321,735 Patented May 23, 1967 3,321,735 RUSHING CONNECTUR Clarence G. Duenke, St. Louis, and Fred 0. Engert,

Afton, Mo., assignors to Washington Electrical Products Company, Washington, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Sept. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 396,025 4 Claims. (Cl. 339-202) This invention relates to -a bushing connector and particularly to a bushing connector mounted in the side of a transformer housing. A particular feature of the bushing connector is its construction with threaded parts adapted to clamp an electric cable with provisions for complete removal of the threaded parts for service or replacement.

Generally speaking, the invention comprises a porcelain body having means for mounting the body to the side of a transformer housing. An electrical conductor extends through the porcelain body as is normal. A connector is fitted within a recess in the outer end of the porcelain body and is fastened to the electrical conductor which extends through the Iporcelain body. The connector is electrically conductive.

The connector has a bifurcated hook arrangement which releasably secures an eyebolt. The eyebolt is threaded into an insulating handle which is accessible from beyond the free end of the porcelain body. When the handle is rotated, the relatively movable parts of the eyebolt and the bifurcated hook are drawn tightly around a conductive cable, and when the handle is rotated in the opposite direction, the cable can be released. When the handle is rotated suiciently in a cable-releasing direction, the eyebolt may be extended far enough from the handle to become free of the bifurcated hook on the connector. Then, when the handle and eyebolt are slid laterally, the handle and eyebolt assembly may be completely removed from the body.

The general object of this invention is to provide a bushing connector having the foregoing features and advantages. Particularly, -an object of the invention is to provide a bushing connector wherein all threaded parts are completely removable for repair or replacement without disassembly of the bushing or even removal of the bushing from the transformer housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bushing connector having an eyebolt threaded into a handle and removably retained by a bifurcated hook wherein the eyebolt can be threaded relatively away from the h-andle to enable removal of the eyebolt, and wherein there are means in the construction of the threads to prevent inadvertent separation of the handle and the eyebolt.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the drawing:

FIGURE lis a fragmentary schematic side elevation view showing a portion of a transformer housing, the bushing connector of this invention mounted to the side of the transformer housing, and a lightning arrester positioned in .proximity -to the bushing connector, all shown on a small scale;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in section through the central axis of the bushing connector;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section ytaken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view in section taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation view on a reduced scale showing the connector and handle removed from the rest of the bushing with the eyebolt extended from the handle for removal of the handle and eyebolt from the connector;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation view of the handle and eyebolt only rotated from the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 and FIGURE 7 is a side view of the connector.

Referring now to the drawing, this bushing connector 1) is adapted to be mounted in the side wall 11 of a transformer housing 12. A lightning arrester 13 is also mounted in the side wall 11 of the housing as shown in FIGURE l.

The bushing connector 10 has a porcelain body 15 with an inner end 16 which projects through the side wall 11 into the interior of the transformer housing 12. There are threads 17 on the outer side of the porcelain body 15 adjacent the inner surface of the wall 11, and a shoulder 18 adjacent the outer surface of the w-all 11. A gasket 19 is positioned between the wall 11 and the shoulder 18, and a grip nut 20 is threaded onto the threaded portion 17 of the body 15 to tighten the body 15 against the housing wall 11.

The porcelain body 15 has an axial passage 22 through it extending from the inner end 23 to a larger recess 24 in the outer end 25. An annular shoulder 26 connects the passage 22 and the recess 24. A sleeve 27 is pressfitted into the passage 22 adjacent the shoulder 26.

The connector 3) comprises a casting 31 made of electrically conductive material. The casting 31 has a hub 32 which projects into the passage 22. An annular shoulder 33 surrounds the hub 32 and overlies the shoulder 26. A gasket 34 is positioned between the shoulders 26 and 33.

A stud 35 is threaded into the hub 32. The stud 35 has a threaded .portion 36 terminating in a larger diameterV stop 37. There is `a gasket 38 positioned Ibetween the stop 37 and the sleeve 26. Thus the stud 35 can be threaded into the hub 32 until the .gasket 38 and the gasket 34 are pressed tightly on opposite sides of the sleeve 27. The insulated conductor 40 which extends into the transformer housing 12 has an end 41 extending tightly into the stud 35 to make electrical contact therewith.

As shown in FIGURES 5 and 7, the casting 31 has an end '44 opposite the hu'b`32 that generally forms a hook, the end 44 having a straight portion 45 extending away from the shoulder 33 on one side of the central axis of the casting 31. There is then a cross portion 46 and a return portion 47. There is a cutout 48 through the center of the cross portion 46 and the return portion 47 to provide spaced prongs 49 and 50. The ends 51 of the prongs 49 and'50 on the return portion 47 are spaced from the shoulder 33.

The shaft 54 and eye 55 of the eyebolt 56 can slide through the space 48 between the prongs 49 and 50. The eye 55 has a hole 57 through it. On the side'of the eye 55 opposite the shaft 54 there are oppositely-extending arms 58 and 59 as shown in FIGURE 6. The total width of the bar defining the arms 58 and 59 is greater than the wid-th of the space 48 between the arms 49 and 50. However, the width of the eye 55 and the shaft 54 as viewed in FIGURE 6 is less than the width of the space 48. v

A phenolic handle 62 is permanently attached to a metal hub 63. The hub 63 has a recess in it having two sets of internal threads V64 and 65 separated by an unthreaded section 66. The Unthreaded section 66 is of larger diameter than the threaded sections 64 and 65 to preclude interference with use of the threaded sections 64 and 65.

The shaft 54 leading from the eyebolt 55 has two threaded sections 67 and 68. The threaded sections 67 and 68 are separated by an Unthreaded smaller diameter section 69. The threaded sections 67 and 68 can make threaded engagement with either threaded section 64 or 3 65. The lengths of the threaded sections 64 and 68 are substantially equal to or slightly less than the lengths of the unthreaded sections 66 and 69. There is a lock washer 70 between the hub 63 and the casting 31, as shown in FIGURE 2.

The body 15 has two holes 72 and 73 through it (see FIGURE 4), generally aligned with the hole 57 through the eyebolt 55 when the eyebolt is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. In FIGURE 2, the hole 57 is positioned between the straight portion 45 and the return portion 47, and is not blocked by the cross portion 46.

The body 15 has another hole 74 through its lower side in communication with the recess 24. A gap stud 75 is threaded into the connector casting 31 for being positioned opposite the lightning arrester 13, to establish an appropriate gap as is known in the art. There is a hole 76 through the casting 31 to allow drainage of water through the hole 76 and through the hole 74.

In use, when this bushing connector is installed through the side 11 of a transformer housing 12, it may engage a bare wire portion of an electric cable 77 (see FIGURE l). Once the bushing connector 10 is installed on the transformer housing, it need never be removed unless the housing itself is broken. All other parts of the bushing connector are separately removable from the porcelain body 15 while the body 15 remains in place.

It is obvious from FIGURE 2 that the connector casting 31 threads onto the stud 36 until the gaskets 34 and 38 are tightened against the opposing sides of the sleeve 27. The casting 31 is positioned so that the arrester gap stud 75 will project downwardly into the hole 74.

Ordinarily, the handle 62 and the eyebolt 56 are in such positions that the laterally extending arms 58 and 59 lie Ibetween the straight portion 4-5 and the return portion 47 of the casting 31. This puts the eye' 55 and sha-ft 54 in the space 48 between the prongs 49 and 50. When the handle 62 is rotated, it threads the shaft 67 further into the hub 63 as the hub and lock washer 70 bear against the casting 31 (as viewed in FIGURE 2). This draws the hole 57 of the eyebolt toward the cross portion 46 of the casting 31 and tightens the cable 77 between the hole 57 and the cross portion `46. Rotation of the handle 62 in the opposite direction, of course, loosens the connection to the cable 77 and the cable can be pulled free of the bushing connector.

If the eyebolt becomes damaged or worn, it is easily removed without disturbing the position of the other parts of the bushing connector 10. This removal is done by rotating the handle 62 in a direction that will thread vthe shaft 67 toward the entrance of the recess in the hub 63. Since the threaded section 64 is slightly shorter in length than the unthreaded section 66 on the hub 63, the threads become disengaged when the section 68 reaches the unthreaded section 66. This position of the hub 63 relative to the shaft 54, however, has the eyebolt 56 extended far enough so that the lateral arms 58 and 59 are beyond the ends 51 of the prongs 49 and 50. The handle 62 can then be swivelled, as shown in FIGURE 5, to pass the Iextensions 58 and 59 beyond the ends 51 to withdraw '.the handle 62 and eyebolt 56 from the recess 24.

When the handle 62 and eyebolt 56 are thus freed, the yeyebolt 56 can be completely removed by rotation of the handle 6-2 until the threads on the section 68 engage the threads on the section 64. Replacement of the handle 62 and the eyebolt 56 is the opposite to what has just been described.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the purview of this invention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. A bushing connector comprising an insulating body adapted to be mounted in a side of a transformer housing, means ill the body t0 receive an electrically conductive cable extending from the interior of the transformer housing to a point inside the body, an electrically conductive casting in electrical contact with the cable, the casting having a bifurcated hook portion extending in a direction opposite the connection to the cable, a recess in the end of the body which projects away from the transformer housing, lthe bifurcated hook portion being positioned within the recess, an eyebolt adapted to be received AWithin the bifurcated hook portion of the casting, the eyebolt having laterally projecting arms, a threaded shaft extending from the eyebolt toward the mouth of the recess in the body, a handle threaded onto the shaft for drawing the eyebolt ytoward an opposing side of the bifurcated hook portion, the handle and eyebolt being removable frorn the casting when the handle is rotated in an unthreading direction.

2. The bushing connector of claim 1 including means requiring position manipulation of the handle and eyebolt to completely unthread the eyebolt shaft from the handle.

3. A bushing connector comprising a body of electrically insulating material, a passage through the body for receiving an electrical conductor, an electrically conductive member in the passage adapted to make electrical contact with the conductor, a clamp device including a threaded shaft, an electrically insulating handle having a recess with internal `threads complementary to the threads on the shaft, the shaft being drawn into the handle recess when the handle is rotated in one direction and being driven toward the mouth of the recess when the handle is rotated in the opposite direction, the member and the clamp having mutually facing portions movable alternately toward and away from one another when the handle is rotated alternately in the said one and opposite directions, means on the member and the clamp for preventing removal of the clamp from the body except when the handle is rotated sufficiently in the said opposite direction, the member having a base for connection to the conductor to establish lthe aforesaid electrical contact and having a hook, the hook comprising a straight portion extending from the base in a direction away from the base, a cross portion constituting the aforesaid portion on the member mutually facing a por-tion on the clamp, and a return portion, the return portion having a free end spaced from the base, the clamp having a body, said portion on the clamp comprising part of the wall of a hole through the body, the clamp being movable upon rotation of the handle to adjust the position of the hole relative to the said portions of the hook, the means for preventing removal of the clamp from the body cornprising an arm projecting between the straight and return portions of the hook when the handle is rotated in the first direction, the arm being passable between the free end of the return portion and the base when the handle is rotated sufiicently .in the said opposite direction.

4. The bushing connector of claim 3 wherein the threads on the shaft and in the handle -recess have interrupted portions causing the shaft and handle threads to become disengaged prior to complete removal of the shaft from the handle recess, the end of the shaft and mouth of the handle recess having additional threads requiring mutual engagement before the shaft can be completely removed from the handle recess.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,453,761 1l/l948 schoonmaker 339-109 2,672,595 3/1954 Barr 339-202 2,882,513 4/1959 Olashaw 339-198 2,883,640 4/1959 Duenke 339-202 2,958,068 10/1960 Lipinski 339-272 X MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

ALF-RED S. TRASK, RICHARD E. MOORE, Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. A BUSHING CONNECTOR COMPRISING AN INSULATING BODY ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN A SIDE OF A TRANSFORMER HOUSING, MEANS IN THE BODY TO RECEIVE AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE CABLE EXTENDING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE TRANSFORMER HOUSING TO A POINT INSIDE THE BODY, AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE CASTING IN ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH THE CABLE, THE CASTING HAVING A BIFURCATED HOOK PORTION EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE THE CONNECTION TO THE CABLE, A RECESS IN THE END OF THE BODY WHICH PROJECTS AWAY FROM THE TRANSFORMER HOUSING, THE BIFURCATED HOOK PORTION BEING POSITIONED WITHIN THE RECESS, AN EYEBOLT ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED WITHIN THE BIFURCATED HOOK PORTION OF THE CASTING, THE EYEBOLT HAVING LATERALLY PROJECTING ARMS, A THREADED SHAFT EXTENDING FROM THE EYEBOLT TOWARD THE MOUTH OF THE RECESS IN THE BODY, A HANDLE THREADED ONTO THE SHAFT FOR DRAWING THE EYEBOLT TOWARD AN OPPOSING SIDE OF THE BIFURCATED HOOK PORTION, THE HANDLE AND EYEBOLT BEING REMOVABLE FROM THE CASTING WHEN THE HANDLE IS ROTATED IN AN UNTHREADING DIRECTION.

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